Ken Rattenne Photo

WP GP40-2 3558 on Williams Loop, August 1, 1982.[Photo Caption]

By the time the Western Pacific needed more road power in the year 1979, EMD had deleted the GP40 from its catalog, replacing it in 1972 with the electronically improved GP40-2. WP had been experiencing a traffic boom and was often short on power, forcing the operating department to press pool units on the railroad into continued (and expensive) service. The railroad finally arranged with Union Pacific to  lease a set of UP C30-7s and used the six-axle G.E.s for much of 1979 and into 1980. 

WP finally placed an order for five GP40-2s in 1979, taking delivery of them in July of that year. They were numbered 3545-3549 in sequence behind the last GP40. All were delivered in the New Image paint scheme and featured air conditioning, "clean" cabs and extended dynamic brakes. In an interesting oversight, WP failed to order the now-standard signal light package found on the majority of fleet in the late 1970s.

Western Pacific's final locomotive order as an independent company was an additional 10 GP40-2s, delivered in April of 1980 and numbered 3550-3559. These units were fully equipped, shipping with full signal light packages, air conditioning. "clean" cabs and the standard large pilot plows found on the balance of the GP40 fleet. 

GP40-2 3557 awaits departure eastbound from Oroville Yard on July 5, 1980  (Ken Rattenne Photo)